People naturally adapt to their environment either by modifying their existing behaviors or by considering alternative ones when necessary [1]}, [2]}. The scientific field that studies the resulting dynamics is evolutionary game theory [3]}, [4]}, [5]}, [6]}, [7]}, [8]}, [9]}, [10]}. This framework considers populations of players who engage in various strategic interactions. Corresponding models describe how people learn to engage in reciprocity [11]}, [12]}, [13]}, [14]}, [15]}, [16]}, [17]}, [18]}, [19]}, [20]}, [21]}, [22]}, [23]}, [24]}, how social norms evolve over time [25]}, [26]}, how groups are formed [27]}, or how thriving communities can suddenly be undermined by corruption [28]}, [29]}.
A key assumption in evolutionary game theory is that individuals might not act optimally from the outset. Rather, they use their experience from previous interactions to adapt their behaviors over time [3]}, [5]}, [6]}, [8]}. How this learning process unfolds is determined by the model, and hence by the researcher.
